Coal-washer.



A. F. BLAIR.

COAL WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 1913.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

INVENTO/f /7//e/7 A 5/621) WITNESSES: of, @fwM 455% ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH CO.,WASHINOTON, D. c.

A. F. BLAIR.

COAL WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEII. 1913.

1 ,1 58,777. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

O O 00 000 0000 0 00 0 k, Ooooooooooofi WITNESSES: nwmm/e 07f, @awfif /7//e/7 Ffi/az'r ATTORNEY L'OLUMIHA l-LANwm/um cw. wAsmNn'mN. D. c.

A. F. BLAIR.

COAL WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1913.

1, 1 58,777. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

w w WITNE88E8: I NVEIVTOI? $411 $4M O fif/ex; fifl/a/r j %%2 BY Q3 ATTORNEY CDLUMBIA imnoamu C0..WASHINBTON. D. c.

A. F. BLAIR.

COAL WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 1913'.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- A TTORNE Y ALLLEN E EBLATR, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

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specification of Letters latent.

Patented Nov. '2, telfi.

Application filed'June 11, 1913. Serial No. 772,988.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that L'AL EN F.

7 my coal washer associated with a settling tank and return Hume-f 2, is a view in side elevation of the same, parts thereof being broken away better to show certain other parts; Fig, 3 is a plan view of my coal washer; Fig. 4; is a view in longitudinal vertical-section on broken line 00, m of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a pulsator associated with my coal washer; Fig. 6,'is a sectional view of the same on broken line 2 3 of Fig. 5 Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in front elevation of a c loiible weir-operating cam forming a part of the same; Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation" of other partsof the same; 9 is a vertical sectional view on broken line a, 2 of Fig. 4: showing an alternative form of mechanism embodied'in invent-ion; Fig. 10, is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view showing parts comprising a coal weir-valve raised and a refuse :fva-lve closed; Fig. 11, is a similar view show- Briefly my invention consists in a structure having a water tight compartment .within the upper portion of which maybe disposed a perforated plate orsc-reen upon which coal or other material that is (to be Washed may be placed. A plurality of gate valves are provided in oneof the side walls of said water tight compartment which gate valves communicatewith an adjacent cornp'artment and permit water to flow into said water tight compartment but prevent its flowing outwardly therefrom. Sa1dadT -a- BLAIR, citi "zen of the United gtates, residing at Seattle,

in the county of King and State of lWash cent compartment is provided with a pulsator which is connected with suitablemecha nism to impart to it; a quick downward movement and a slow upward movement by which downward movement, water that may be contained in said two compartments, to a sufficient depth to submerge the coal screen, may be given a quick strong impulse to force it upw ardly through said coal screen with suffic ent velocity to cause it to lift the coal and refuse that may be contained thereon. At the end of the downward stroke of the pulsator the gatevalves may close to prevent any reverse pulsation or reverse action of water on the mass of coal andrefuse and said mass is allowed to settle during the slow upward stroke of the pulsator, the stone, slate and heavier particles settling faster than the lighter pure coal, thus, re peated pulsations produce a Stratification with the pure coal onthe top, which pure coal may be flushed off overa gate that is adapted to rise and lower at certain intervals. i

A suitable refuse valve is provided for 5 move clay, sand and the like, that settles through the coal screen to the bottom of" said compartment.

Adjustable baflle bars are disposed within the upper portion of the water tight compartment between the coal screen and the gate valves to properlv dlstribute the water that is forced upwardly through the screen.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

15 is (a water chamber within the upper portion of which is secured a perforated plate or coal screen 16 which forms the bottomof' a coal receptacle 17 and is'adapted to have one of its ends raised or lowered by adjusting rods 18 thus to varyfits ,angle of inclination. A transverse baifle plate 19 spaced above the screen 16 is provided near the 23 which has a plurality of slotted openings, extending therethrough which slotted open ings are adapted to be-closed on thei'down- Ward stroke of said pulsator 23 by valve strips 24 which valve strips 24 are loosely hung on springs 25 and are adapted to open I on the upward stroke of said pulsator 23 to permit water to pass downwardly through the slotted openings. 1

Thepulsator 23 is adapted to be actuated by twopairs of links 26 which have their lower ends pivotally secured toit at different. points, and their upper ends pivotally 7 connected with horizontal lever-arms or bars 27 which bars 27 have their adjacent ends pivotally secured within cross-heads 28 which are adapted to reciprocate vertically 7 .within slots 29 provided in a frame 30 and disposed concentrically with said pulsator 'frame of the pulsator 23,,which holes 32 and 33 serve to permit the links 26 to be moved toward or away from the cross-heads 28 and the center of the pulsator 23 thus 1naking the length of the stroke of said pulsator 23 adjustable. The cross-heads28 are actuated through .links34 which connect them with the ends of operating levers 35, which levers 35 are pivotally secured to the frame 30 by shafts 36 and are provided with slots 37 in which are adapted slidably to operate crank-pins 38 of shaft 40.

A gearwheel 41 is provided on the shaft 40 and adapted to be rotated by a pinion 42 of a driven shaft 43. As the shaft 40 rotates the crank pins 38, revolve and slide in the slotted holes 37 ,thus moving the lever arms 35 on their pivots and causing the cross-heads 28 to reciprocate andto actuate .1 the pulsator 23. The crank-pins 38 revolve at a uniform speed and slide in the slots "37 thus varying the distance between said crank-pins38 and the pivot-shaft 36 and imparting to the lever-arms 35 a variable rate of speed, said rate of speed being greatest when the crank-pins 38 are nearest to the pivot shaft 36 and least when the crank-pins 38 are farthestfrom said pivot shaft 36, the r revolution of said crank-pins 38 being in such direction that a relatively quick downward movement is communicated to the pulsator 23.

'- Such quick downward movement of said pulsator 23 forces water through the valves 21 and upwardly through the perforated plate 16 with sufficient impulse to cause it to liftthe coal and refuse that may-be contained thereon. Thewflap valves 21 close at. the end of the downward stroke of the pulsatoi' 23 to 1 prevent any reverse action of water on the of the pu1sator-23 provides ample time for the settlement and Stratification and dis-V charge of the mass of coal on the screen.

' coal and refuse, and the slow upward stroke 7 l A plurality of adjustable baffle bars 44' V are each secured at each end to an inclined j I angle-bar 45 provided on the side walls of the water chamber 15 and are'disposed to extend across said water chamber 15 between the uppermost of the flap; valves 21 and the bottom of the perforated plate 16- to distribute the current ;of Jwater that'fis forced up-. wardly by the downward stroke of the pulsator23. V V

' Ihe baffle bars 44 are 'removably, secured to the angle-bars 45 by bolts 46 which pass through said baffle-bars 44 and through longitudinal slots 47 provided in said angle-bars 45, by which means the baffle-bars 44 maybe moved lengthwise alongthe angle-bars 45 to regulate the spaces therebetween and thus to regulate the amount of water thatmay be forced upwardly therethrough at any particular place; i

The flap-valves 21 are each pivotally mounted on the'upper portion of an inclined frame 48 that is secured to the wall,

of the water chamber 15, saidyalves21' being adapted to swing inwardly to allow water to pass through them into the water chamber 15 and to close to prevent water passing outwardly therethrough from the water chamber 15. V

The forward end of the .coal receptacle 17 is'partially closed by a retaining plate 49 which-jextends acrossit, saidplate 49 having a verticallyv adjustable sliding plate 50 associated with its loweredge, which sliding plate 50 may be moved up or downby ,threaded rods 51,-to'vary the distance between it and the floor of the coal receptacle 17, and thusto vary the size of the opening through which the refuse may be taken off, for differentgrades of coal. Y 7

A vertically movable weir gate 52 is slidably mounted to extend across thecoal re ceptacle 17 adjacent to the plate 49 and-is "adapted to have a vertically reciprocating motion communicated to it by links 53 which are pivotally connected with lever-arms 54 that are fixedly secured on a shaft 55 that is V .suitably j ournaled in the frame and which is,

adapted to be oscillated by another fixedly as shown in Fig. ,7, and mounted on a shaft 61, which shaft 61 is. adapted to be rotated by a gearwheel 62 disposed to mesh with the gearwheel 41, of the same size, so that the vertical movement of the weir-gate 52 V shall bear a fixed relation to. the vertical secured lever-arm 56 that is connectedby a link 57 with a vertical lever-arm 58 which a is adapted to be actuated by an adjustable double cam composed of parts 59hand 60, 2

movement of the pulsator 23- said weir-gate being lowered to allow the p tirecoal to be flushed off over its top during the time that the pulsator 23 is making its upward stroke. lihe distance of movement of the weir-gate 52m-ay bevaried by shifting the ends of the'link 59 to connect with a different one of various holes provided in the upper ends of the lever-arm's 58 and 56, respectively, thelength of time during which said weingate may remain in its lowered or raisedposition may be regulated by means of the cam membersii and 60.- a.

An inclined surface 87 is disposed adjacent the exterior of the weir-gate 52, over which the'coal may pass to a settling tank 63"aslb' is flushed 019.; A conveyer 64 is provided in the settling tank 63 for removing the washed coal, and a. fiume65 is provided at thesideof the machine which is ada'p'tedto receive water from the settling tank 63 and deliver it through an opening 66 to the water chamber 22 bove the pulsator 23;

As the washing of the coal proceeds the heavier refuse material as rock, slate, and the like is caused to settle to the bottom of the coal receptacle 17 and is moved forward on the screen 16 until it passes under the plate 50 and is deposited on a refuse valve 67, which refuse valve 67 isfixedly secured to a shaft 68, that is adapted to be oscillated by a link 69 which has one of its ends connected with a crank-arm 7 O, securedon the end of the shaft 68, and its other end eccentrically connected with a ratchet wheel 71, which is adapted to be rotated by a pawl 72 secured on the end of a lever-arm 7 3which lever-arm 73 is connected by a link 74 with the end of an therlever-arm 75 thatis fixedly secured to the shaft 36 and has a threaded shaft 76 associated with it in such manner that the distance between the center of the shaft 36 and the pivot point of the adjacent end of the link 74 may be varied by adjusting said threaded shaft, thus varyingthe'time required tooscillate the valve 67-. Normally the edge of the circular end portion of the valve 67 is in close proximity to the front edge of the perforated plate 16, as illustrated in Fig. 10, and as the valve 67 oscillates to the position illustrated in Fig. 11, said circular portion tends to break loose any sand, mud or like refuse that may have settled in the opening at the front edge of the screen 16. The refuse that has been delivered to the valve 67 is dumped into a refuse chamber 77 from which it may be removed by a conveyer 78, as illustrated in Fig. 9, or by a trap 79 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

A water supply pipe 80 may be disposed to deliver into the feed chute 20 to spray water on the unwashed coal, said pipe 80 being adapted to deliver sufficient water to the top of thebed of coal to assist in flushing off the pure Gear should a greater amount of water he required for flushing than for stratification, and another water supply pipe 31 may be disposed to deliver water into the for the mere conveance of refuse matter the pulsation of water in the refuse chamher will be practically eliminated so that there shall be no upward movement of water in said refuse chamber and the refuse that is deposited therein will be allowed to settle undisturbed;

In order to vary the relative times of the downward and upward stroke of the pulsator 23 I have provided means for varying the distance between the crank-pin 38 and the center ofthe pivot shaft 36, as illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein 84 is a squared portion provided on the shaft 36 and adapted to fit within the end of the slotted hole 37 in the lever-arm 35.

A plurality of spacing strips 85 may be interposed between the end of the slot 37 and the squared portion 84 of the shaft 36, said spacing strips and shaft being secured to the lever-arm 35 by bolts 86. When not in use the spacing strips 85 may be removed and placed on the opposlte side of the squared portion 84: of the shaft 36 where they may always be readv for use, and whereby the thickness of the squared portion 84 and strips 85 may remain constant, thus allowing always the same length of bolt to be used.

In its operation my coal washer may be filled with water to a sufficient depth to submerge the coal screen, as illustrated in Fig. 4 and coal may be. fed (on to the screen 16 through the feed chute 20.. Motion may then be communicated. to the actuating mechanism by the driven pinion 42 to cause the pulsator 23 to reciprocate within the compartment 22 to force repeated impulses of water through the valves 21 and thence upwardly through the coal screen 16 to agitate the unwashed coal thereon and cause it to stratify, the heavier refuse settling on the screen 16 and the lighter pure coal remaining on the top of the refuse while the mud, sand and the like may settle through the screen 16 to the bottom of the compartment 15 from whence it may be discharged into the refuse chamber 77 by screw conveyer82. The slow upward movement of the pulsator 23 affords time for the bed of coal to settle after each impulse and the gate 52 is adapted to be lowered on each upward stroke of the pulsator to permit water to flush off over the top of said gate to the settling tank and to carry with each time, a quantity of clean coal.

The water in the settling tank 63 may be drawn off through the fiume 65 and conducted to the upper portion of the water chamber 22, and in this way the same water may be used continuously to wash coal.

When it be desired a portion only of the water may be passed through the screen 16, the rest of the water used being added in a steady flow to the top of the bed of coal to flush off the pure coal each time the weir gate 52 is lowered, thus reducing the power needed to operate the machine. 7

Stone, slate, bony coal and the like impurities settle on the inclined coal screen 16 and are caused by the pulsations of water to slide I vided at the forward end of said screen on to the refuse valve 67 which refuse valve 67 is adapted to be oscillated by the ratchet wheel 71 and associated mechanism to dis charge said refuse into a refuse chamber 77, said valve 67 being further adapted to close the opening at the forward end of the coal screen 16, as illustrated in Fig. 11,

to prevent refuse material from being discharged from the coal receptacle 17 while the refuse within said valve 67 is being discharged into the refuse chamber 77.

Obviously, if desired, the connecting rod 74 may be disconnected and the ratchetwheel 71 be revolved as required by independent means as by ones hand and likewise the connecting rod 57 may be dispensed with and the weir-gate 52 then be operated by other independent means, as by ones hand, but such weir-gate 52 and the refuse-gate 67 preferably are adapted to be operated conjointly by the means illustrated by the drawings or by equivalent means.

Manifestly numerous changes in the confstruction and form of details of my coal- Copies of this patent may be obtained for washer may be made without departing from for water, of a receptacle for mineral to be washed, said mineralreceptacle having a perforated bottom and disposed-in an inclined position within the upper portion of passageway through the lower portion of its lower end wall, automatic means adapted to open and close said passageway at difierent desired instants of time, a vertically movsaid water receptacle and provided with a able weir-gate disposed adjacent to the lower end wall of said mineral receptacle,and mechanical means associatedwith said weir-V gate and said automatic means whereby they may be caused to be actuated conjointly.

2. In amineral washer of the class described, the combination with a receptacle 1 for water, of a receptaclefor mineral to be I washed said mineral receptacle being disposed within the upper portion of said water t receptacle, and having a passageway for refuse at one end thereof,"a movable gatefor varying the area of said passageway, automat1c means for opening and closing said passageway at predetermined instants of time, and a movable weir-gate for lighter material associated with the walls of said mineral receptacle and adapted to govern the discharge of water and mineral from said receptacle. V

3. In a mineral washer, the-combination with a mineral receptacle that is provided with an outlet passageway in an end wall thereof, of a discharge gate to open and close said outlet passageway, a vertically movable weir-gate adapted to be lowered to permit the discharge of lighter materials over the top side thereof and disposed adjacent to said end wall ofsaid mineral receptacle and mechanical means associated with said weirgate and said discharge gate whereby said,

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

